Learn to Cross Country Ski Week in Southern Finland (Finland)

Come home to comfortable cabin accommodation with sauna each night

The experience is ideal for couples, families (min. age 6 - a pulk is available to hire to pull children who are too young to ski themselves) and groups of friends. There is a smaller cabin option for up to 3 adults or small families, and a choice of two larger cabins for groups of 4 or more adults.

All are comfortable, fully equipped and have their own sauna. There is no better (and no more authentically Finnish!) way to end a day in the fresh air than by relaxing in the sauna afterwards, followed of course by a roll in the snow!

The tour is ideal for couples, families or groups, with a choice of cabin accommodation. Photo: TET.

Snowshoeing, sliding snowshoes, fatbiking and ice fishing add to the adventure!

The week will give you plenty of opportunity to learn and practise your cross country skiing, but also time to try a number of other wonderful winter activities, all included in your stay:

• Snowshoeing: A great way to explore "off track" and access areas not possible to reach on skis.
• Sliding snowshoes: Combining the "best of both worlds" - the ease and flexibility of snowshoeing with the efficiency of cross country skiing.
• Fatbiking: Take to two wheels to discover more of the beautiful surrounding landscape of frozen lakes and forests.
• Ice fishing: An iconic Nordic winter pastime! Try your luck out on the frozen lake - whether or not you're successful with a catch, it's a fun and almost meditative experience!
• Tobogganing: Whether you're 6 or 60, sliding downhill on a toboggan and crashing into a snowdrift is sure to put a smile on your face!

Skiing on sliding snowshoes is just one of the many other winter activities you'll be able to try during the week. Photo: TET.

Additional skiing options nearby

Beginning right from the door of your cabin, there are 10-16km of prepared trails which are maintained by your local hosts. This gives beginners plenty of scope to explore and practise during the week.

For guests travelling by car who wish to do more extensive cross country skiing during your stay or to try some downhill skiing, there are also two ski resorts within easy travelling distance:

• Approx. 45 minutes away is a small downhill slope at Hiihtokeskus Purnu, which is typically open from around Christmas to late March/early April.
• Approx. 60 minutes away lies the large ski resort of Messilä, the largest in southern Finland, typically open from around early December to April.

Included

Accommodation (2-3 adults or family of up to 2 adults + 2 children):

• 7 nights' accommodation in cabin. The cabin sleeps 2 adults in twin/double bedroom + sofa bed suitable for one additional adult or up to two children (note space will be limited in this case).
• Fully-equipped kitchen for self-catering, including basic cookware, tableware, coffee machine, electric kettle, microwave, electric oven, combined fridge/freezer and dishwasher.
• Wood-burning stove and electric radiators.
• Firewood included.
• Electric sauna.
• Free wi-fi.
• TV.
• Bed linen/towels and end cleaning of the cabin on departure is included.
• NB: There is a terrace with seating area and grill which also has an electric hot tub. The hot tub cannot be used during wintertime, but wood-fired hot tub is available as an optional extra during your stay.

Cabin for 2-3 adults or small family. Photos: TET.

Accommodation (4-6 adults or up to 8 persons including children):

• 7 nights' accommodation in choice of 2 cabins, located approx. 800m apart (see images below). Both cabins have very similar standard and facilities:
  • Option 1: Situated on slope overlooking pine forest and own natural frozen pond with jetty, around 800 metres from the frozen lake.
  • Option 2: Located on small pinewood hill and about 50 metres from the frozen lake.
• Fully-equipped kitchen for self-catering, including basic cookware, tableware, coffee machine, electric kettle, microwave, electric oven, combined fridge/freezer and dishwasher.
• Wood-burning stove and electric radiators.
• Firewood included.
• Washing room, dressing room and two WCs.
• Wood-heated sauna.
• Free WiFi.
• TV.
• Washing machine.
• Total area of 120 square metres.
• Bed linen/towels and end cleaning of the cabin on departure is included.

Option 1: Cabin for 4-8 persons. Photos: TET.

Option 2: Cabin for 4-8 persons. Photos: TET.

Activities and equipment:

Families with children too young or who do not wish to ski/snowshoe are welcome to hire a "pulk" (additional charge applies) to pull children behind. Please contact us for details and prices.

• Cross country ski equipment (skis, boots and poles) for the week and use of the prepared cross country ski tracks in the area (total around 10-16km).
• Sliding snowshoes (one day).
• Snowshoes (one day).
• Fatbike (one day).
• Ice fishing equipment (one day).
• Use of toboggans for the week.

Guiding and instruction:

• Cross country skiing instruction (1 x approx. 90 minutes).
• Guided cross country ski tour (1 x half-day incl. outdoor lunch). Distance and level of challenge adapted to the participants.
• Information on how to use ice fishing equipment.

• Map and route suggestions for skiing, snowshoeing and fatbiking.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Food: The cabins are fully-equipped for self-catering. The nearest shop is 4km away, 10 mins by car. NB: Please note if you choose not to have a car during your stay that you may wish to purchase all provisions for your stay before leaving Sysmä. There are no facilities where the cabins are located. It is 4km from the cabins to the nearest stores, so if you wish to replenish supplies during your stay, it is possible to walk to the stores. Alternatively, you may wish to walk in one directly and return by taxi with your shopping.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should be in general good health, enjoy the outdoors and be prepared for a few small falls and bumps as you gain confidence on your skis and develop your technique during the learning process.

No previous cross country skiing experience required - full instruction will be given.

Suitable for adults and children (recommended minimum age 6-7 years). For children who are too young or do not wish to use the ski/snowshoe equipment, a "pulk" is available to hire to pull a child along behind parents.

What makes this "Easy"?

The accommodation is cosy, comfortable and fully equipped with modern amenities, including the availability of sauna each night.

All activities can be done at introductory level, though guests with previous cross country experience will also find their stay a wonderful option to develop and improve their technique.

The guided elements can be tailored to suit your level of ability and wishes and there is no minimum requirement. Self-guided activities during the week are also extremely flexible and there is great scope to make your stay as relaxing or active as you wish.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Groups

Each of the two larger cabins is suitable for up to 8 persons and this experience is ideal for groups of friends or two families travelling together.

Eco Info

Located on an organic farm. Your local hosts use organic products on their fields and production is checked every year to meet the standards for organic farming.

This provider has a written environmental policy.